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This team isn't made to do that, we need an offensive coach who won't try to play skill against skill. Gordon should have been against Ovechkin.

Yea, I can agree with that. Matching our top line with theirs isn't the smartest thing to do when playing teams like Pittsburgh and Washington. That being said, we still need a better work ethic. A coach who embraces our offensive line-up will only take us so far.

Eakins really has no say in that. I'm finished with blaming this ****show on anything but the players. Step up or step out should be the mantra. Sadly, we've hooked our wagon to these kids and it's not going to change anytime soon.

I find it funny that Eakins has put so much emphasis on fitness because I don't think fitness was ever really a major issue until this year when Eakins made it an issue by playing our forwards 25+ minutes a night with PK time.

At least he has smartened up a bit and lowered the ice time of our top players.

Yea, I can agree with that. Matching our top line with theirs isn't the smartest thing to do when playing teams like Pittsburgh and Washington. That being said, we still need a better work ethic. A coach who embraces our offensive line-up will only take us so far.

But if he used out top offensive guys against weaker lines maybe we could have taken more control of the game.

We need to be doing that, because right now our kids aren't strong enough to go toe to toe. We need to hit their weaker lines with everything we can throw at them. Pile the shots on, tire the goalie out, make the other team play on their heels. Instead of going toe to toe getting beat and giving up quality chances.

That's what we were doing last year and it worked, we improved. Krueger got that team out of last place flittered with the playoffs but cooled off. He should not have been fired, maybe have Eakins come in as an assistant to see what happens. But the first coach to get us out of the bottom 2 spots in 3 years did not deserve to be fired.

Eakins style works in the AHL, because those players aren't as skilled, and swarming the puck carrier will lead to mistakes amongst less competent players. At the NHL it's clear it's not working. Whatever Krueger was doing is better than what Eakins is doing now. We went from 29th to 23rd with Krueger, our team is improved. Better third line center, more serviceable defensemen who knows what our powerplay would be doing with a healthy Nuge and whatever plan Krueger was using.

Our powerplay was clicking, our penalty kill was humming along. So it's not the team on that front it's the coaching staff.

I think the team looks better as a whole this season when compared to any time in the last 5 years or so. The results aren't there, but the players look like they can control the game for longer stretches of time and we're seeing far fewer fire drills in the d-zone.

I'm not concerned with Eakins at this point. I'd prefer that the team keep him and allow him to continue to shape the team into his vision. If the Oilers can keep the same coach for a couple seasons in a row, that would be a huge plus for all the players.

But if he used out top offensive guys against weaker lines maybe we could have taken more control of the game.

We need to be doing that, because right now our kids aren't strong enough to go toe to toe. We need to hit their weaker lines with everything we can throw at them. Pile the shots on, tire the goalie out, make the other team play on their heels. Instead of going toe to toe getting beat and giving up quality chances.

That's what we were doing last year and it worked, we improved. Krueger got that team out of last place flittered with the playoffs but cooled off. He should not have been fired, maybe have Eakins come in as an assistant to see what happens. But the first coach to get us out of the bottom 2 spots in 3 years did not deserve to be fired.

Eakins style works in the AHL, because those players aren't as skilled, and swarming the puck carrier will lead to mistakes amongst less competent players. At the NHL it's clear it's not working. Whatever Krueger was doing is better than what Eakins is doing now. We went from 29th to 23rd with Krueger, our team is improved. Better third line center, more serviceable defensemen who knows what our powerplay would be doing with a healthy Nuge and whatever plan Krueger was using.

Our powerplay was clicking, our penalty kill was humming along. So it's not the team on that front it's the coaching staff.

Kruger's team was a lot worse than the one that finished 29th the year before by every measure save their spot in the standings. It's quite possible that, over a full season, they would have been down in the basement again.

Eakins is putting his mark on his team with a new system. That takes time. He's dealing with injuries to key players. That's out of his hands. Hasn't all been roses, but there are some signs of progress. Rome was not built in a day or even 10 games.

I think the team looks better as a whole this season when compared to any time in the last 5 years or so. The results aren't there, but the players look like they can control the game for longer stretches of time and we're seeing far fewer fire drills in the d-zone.

I'm not concerned with Eakins at this point. I'd prefer that the team keep him and allow him to continue to shape the team into his vision. If the Oilers can keep the same coach for a couple seasons in a row, that would be a huge plus for all the players.

if the special teams were as good this year as they were last year there is no doubt in my mind that this team would be much better than last years.

Kruger's team was a lot worse than the one that finished 29th the year before by every measure save their spot in the standings. It's quite possible that, over a full season, they would have been down in the basement again.

Eakins is putting his mark on his team with a new system. That takes time. He's dealing with injuries to key players. That's out of his hands. Hasn't all been roses, but there are some signs of progress. Rome was not built in a day or even 10 games.

I understand that it takes time. But I'm arguing that hiring an AHL coach with zero NHL experience by our "impatient GM" wasn't a good idea. I would have been fine with Eakins being an assistant for a year to get his feet wet and take over in a year or two Renney style. But instead our team is being lead by untested youngsters being coached by an untested coach.

I understand that it takes time. But I'm arguing that hiring an AHL coach with zero NHL experience by our "impatient GM" wasn't a good idea. I would have been fine with Eakins being an assistant for a year to get his feet wet and take over in a year or two Renney style. But instead our team is being lead by untested youngsters being coached by an untested coach.

You realize Eakins was an assistant coach in Toronto for two seasons, right?

I understand that it takes time. But I'm arguing that hiring an AHL coach with zero NHL experience by our "impatient GM" wasn't a good idea. I would have been fine with Eakins being an assistant for a year to get his feet wet and take over in a year or two Renney style. But instead our team is being lead by untested youngsters being coached by an untested coach.

The guy you think they should have kept instead of hiring Eakins had zero NHL head coaching experience when he started. If you think the team improved under him, that would seem to undermine your argument against Eakins.

I understand that it takes time. But I'm arguing that hiring an AHL coach with zero NHL experience by our "impatient GM" wasn't a good idea. I would have been fine with Eakins being an assistant for a year to get his feet wet and take over in a year or two Renney style. But instead our team is being lead by untested youngsters being coached by an untested coach.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ResilientBeast

Really? Huh I must have gotten confused because I don't think I've seen anyone mention it till now.

Okay no experience as an NHL head coach.

Nice, the good old he should have this to be a coach then you find out he does and you completely change your opinion. Doesn't work that way.

You know weather we like it or not, we wont be getting a new coach for a while.

IMO thats one of the biggest fails of this rebuild so far is to keep changing coaches. Its no wonder this team has been searching a idenity since Mact got fired. Its because we havent had a coach longer than 2 seasons since.

You know weather we like it or not, we wont be getting a new coach for a while.

IMO thats one of the biggest fails of this rebuild so far is to keep changing coaches. Its no wonder this team has been searching a idenity since Mact got fired. Its because we havent had a coach longer than 2 seasons since.

There was that post on twitter last night stating info from a source inside the team has the Oilers firing Eakins and hiring Messier by next week.

I think most of you guys are looking at the results and trying to find the easiest person to blame. The Oilers have played much better than they ever did under Krueger. They win faceoffs, often out-shoot the opponent, play an offensive system suited to our team.. the fitness thing has been so overblown. I remember watching a documentary on the '06 team that went to the Finals. A lot of the players mentioned fitness being a huge reason they went far because by the time the playoffs came around they weren't worn down. I think the Oilers have had horrible luck this year. Holtby stole the game for Washington last night.

We aren't firing Eakins, guys. Don't even bother suggesting it. Players will move before he does and I think it's time for a bit of a shakeup. A move that will change the look of the team a bit because something about the roster right now isn't getting results. We've had the same kind of team for four years.. it's time to make a big move.

I think most of you guys are looking at the results and trying to find the easiest person to blame. The Oilers have played much better than they ever did under Krueger. They win faceoffs, often out-shoot the opponent, play an offensive system suited to our team.. the fitness thing has been so overblown. I remember watching a documentary on the '06 team that went to the Finals. A lot of the players mentioned fitness being a huge reason they went far because by the time the playoffs came around they weren't worn down. I think the Oilers have had horrible luck this year. Holtby stole the game for Washington last night.

We aren't firing Eakins, guys. Don't even bother suggesting it. Players will move before he does and I think it's time for a bit of a shakeup. A move that will change the look of the team a bit because something about the roster right now isn't getting results. We've had the same kind of team for four years.. it's time to make a big move.

If we're making strides in the right direction and have had rotten luck, why do we need to shake up the team? Wouldn't it make more sense to stay the course and wait for the luck to turn around as opposed to making a drastic move? Seems contradictory to me.

If we're making strides in the right direction and have had rotten luck, why do we need to shake up the team? Wouldn't it make more sense to stay the course and wait for the luck to turn around as opposed to making a drastic move? Seems contradictory to me.

I don't think we need a shake up, but I think a couple of bodies are needed. Another PK guy and depending how things go we need some more nastiness on that blueline.

One thing that caught me off guard was yesterday's interview before the game. Talking about the best guy to play in front of the net Tomas Holmstrom. Thought he could've threw a bone to Smyth and made it something that players could learn/ask Smyth about, but he didn't.